Self-playing musical instrument.



I N0[ 850,33 0. PATENTED APR. 16, 1907.

E. D. AUKERMAN, G. E. CLINTON & R. N. ELTOM. w

SELF PLAYING MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION TILED PEB.7, 1906.

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PATENTED APR. 16

SELF PLAYING MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7, 1906 i Z ya /y M E. D. ACKERMAN, O. E. CLINTON R N. ELTOM.

R5 co., WASHINGTON. n. c.

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EDWIN D. ACKERMAN, OF NEW YORK, AND CHARLES E. CLINTON AND ROBERT N. ELTOM, OF CORONA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS, BY DIRECT AND MESN E ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE PIANORA COMPANY, A CORPORA- TION OF NEW YORK.

SELF-PLAYING MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 16, 1907.

Application filed February 7, 1906. Serial No- 299,972.

To all ZU/LO'I'I'I/ it may concern:

Be it known that we, EDWIN D. AoKER- MAN, CHARLES E. CLINTON, and ROBERT N. ELTOM, citizens of the United States, residing at New York and Corona, respectively, in the counties of New York and Queens, re spectively, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Playing Musical Instruments and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to actions for self playing musical instruments, and has for an object to provide an action embodying new and improved features of accuracy of adjustment, simplicity, and efficiency.

A further object of the invention is to provide an action wherein the touch may be controlled by means of padded screws applied to the action for each key.

With these and other objects in view the invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the improved action. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the wind-chest or exhaust-chamber. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the contact-shoe and bell-crank lever. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the shoe-actuating lever. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the lever fulcruming ear member. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the swivel-joint and parts associated with the means forlimiting the movement of the shoe.

In its preferred embodiment the improved action for self-playing instruments forming the subject-matter of this application comprises a bar. 10, extending entirely across the instrument and parallel with the keyboard. Upon the bar 10 are secured aplurality of upstanding ears 11, between which are fulcrumed levers 12, one for each key upon the keyboard. To one end of the lever 12 is fulcrumed the bell-crank lever 13, as by the pivot 14, carrying at one extremity the striking-rod 15, and at the other extremity the arm 16, carrying at its lower extremity the contact-shoe 17. The contact-shoe 17 is provided with any approved elastic material or fabric (indicated at 18) for engagement with a like fabric or covering 19', carried upon the roller 20, which extends entirely across the instrument parallel with and spaced from the bar 10. The bar 10 is provided with a plurality of screws 21, corresponding in numher to the number of shoes 17 and provided each at its outer end with a swiveled head 22, carrying a pad 23, disposed for contact with and to limit the movement of the arm 16.

Above the bar 10 is disposed the windchest or exhaust-chamber 24, provided with a plurality of valves 25, communicating each with the passage, as 26, which opens into the pneumatic 27, one of which is provided for each individual key-action and is connected by the rod 28 with the lever 12 at the end opposite the bell-crank lever 13. The pneumatic 27 is disposed relative to the lever 12 in such position that when the said pneumatic is exhausted the inner end of the lever 12 is raised against the tension of the spring 29, carried by the bracket 30, and arranged to return the lever to normal position when the exhaustion of the pneumatic 27 is relieved.

Upon the bar 10 is carried a cleat 31, which may be secured thereto or integral therewith and through which are inserted a plurality of screws 32, corresponding in number to the levers 12 and provided each with a pad 33 for contact with and to limit the downward movement of the inner end of the said lever 12. Above the cleat 31 and above the lever 12 is secured and spaced a strip 34, as by means of a bolt 35, provided with adjusting j am-nuts 36. Through the strip 34 are inserted the screws 37, provided each with a pad 38, disposed to contact with and limit the upward movement of the inner end of the lever 12.

For operating the valves each is provided with a stem 39, secured to a pneumatic 40, which. covers a pocket, as 41, communicating by means of a passage 42 with the pipe 43, leading to and communicating with the usual openings of the tracker bar. The opening 42 is provided with an offset portion 44, leading to the wind-chest above the pneumatics and communicating therewith by means of a very small aperture or bleeder 45. 

